Anti-Evolution Group Files Lawsuit Against Kansas Education Board Over New Science Standards

Yep, some people still just cannot accept that evolution is being taught in public schools. Instead of maybe investing more money and effort in religious schools where creationism can be taught, giving parents a viable alternative to public schools, they insist on having religious beliefs forced on the rest of the country:

The nonprofit Citizens for Objective Public Education filed a lawsuit Thursday to block the board, education commissioner and Department of Education from teaching science classes consistent with new educational benchmarks developed by 26 states to align school systems across the U.S. These Next Generation Science Standards, which Kansas adopted in June, have seen fierce opposition from critics opposed to the teaching of climate change and evolution.

Citizens for Objective Public Education argues in its lawsuit that the standards promote atheism and therefore violate the separation of church and state.

www.huffingtonpost.com...

So the excuse to remove evolution from public schools is that it's religious... which kind of baffles me. I mean is there a "church of evolution" that we haven't heard of? Is astronomy a religion as well? Physics? Is that religious too? I don't know where these people get off trying to pull these stunts with the courts?

further on from Mr John Calvert, the attorney behind this lawsuit:

The state’s job is simply to say to students, ‘How life arises continues to be a scientific mystery and there are competing ideas about it,’” said John Calvert, an attorney involved in the lawsuit, per The Associated Press. Calvert is also the founder of the Intelligent Design Network, a group that "seeks institutional objectivity in origins science," according to its website.

www.huffingtonpost.com...

So we're suppose to just 'pretend' that evolution is an unproven theory and that's it. If ya can't get creationism in the classes then let's just do away with it all and ruin it for the rest of the country.

This makes my blood boil.

The irony is, because we are still infantile evolution wise, the majority of our species cannot even see that religion is the abomination of mankind.

Sigh..

Snf

reply to post by Southern Guardian


Why does it need to part of the curriculum in our schools anyway?

What does it contribute to our children learning how to be productive members of society?

I am still waiting to see a primate turn into a man! Hasn't happened has it? I also don't believe in the religious aspect of why we are here either!

Bottom line, no one can prove either theory, so why is this even an issue in our schools? I can think of many more important thing to teach our children, such as how to read, how to write, mathematics, etc etc.......

Just more nonsense to put one group versus another group! What does it solve? Nothing! Crap like this is nothing more than a way to divide us more than we already are!

How is that working for us??

Ain't it just a shame?

Posted here already.

I find it silly how there are those that think evolution is anything more complicated than animal breeding on a exceptionally long timescale. "Intelligent design" is a poorly thought out idea when you think about the numorous problems with the human body, ones that would contradict the entire notion of an all knowing, all powerful, yet merciful god. They(creationists) usually excuse this by mentioning the fall from grace, and other hocus-pocus, when (assuming god is all powerful, all knowing, and merciful/kind) god should have quite frankly known that that was a remote possibility, and created a design that would be robust enough to withstand disease, tooth decay, etc.

reply to post by seeker1963


Youre a product of that system you want..

Keep waiting for a monkey to turn into a man, and wondering why it hasnt happened, then blame education.

jesus christ, lmao...

NonsensicalUserName
I find it silly how there are those that think evolution is anything more complicated than animal breeding on a exceptionally long timescale. "Intelligent design" is a poorly thought out idea when you think about the numorous problems with the human body, ones that would contradict the entire notion of an all knowing, all powerful, yet merciful god. They(creationists) usually excuse this by mentioning the fall from grace, and other hocus-pocus, when (assuming god is all powerful, all knowing, and merciful/kind) god should have quite frankly known that that was a remote possibility, and created a design that would be robust enough to withstand disease, tooth decay, etc.

Exactly. We're made to break. You'd think an all loving god would have made better things to worship him.. since their sole intent is to worship him.

But as I've said before, religion just sets the stage. The religious then make up the story to fill the blanks.

and if I read one more person think monkeys turn into humans I will go ape...

Anti-Evolution Group Files Lawsuit Against Kansas Education Board Over New Science Standards

Nice title. You can tell right away this is going to be another liberal hit piece from our 'friends' at Huffington Post. I think they meant to say 'Creationists' not Anti-Evolution.

I think the truth is more in the middle somewhere...like guided evolution, but really there is no definitive proof of either theory being true. That being said I don't mind evolution being taught in schools because it is a valid theory like many others we teach in science. I just don't like biased hit pieces from either side of the aisle as all it does is serve to divide the population.

My two cents.

seeker1963
Why does it need to part of the curriculum in our schools anyway?

because the science behind biological evolution is solid and supported by a century and a half of ever increasing data

What does it contribute to our children learning how to be productive members of society?

people need to learn to accept ideas they don't normally agree with, or at the very least learn to accept that its a valid opinion when postulated by another whether they agree with it or not and how to work with people they don't agree 100% with. It's how adults manage to do jobs they loathe and still get promoted. In sociology or cultural anthropology it would be an important aspect of social networking on an intrapersonal scale.

I am still waiting to see a primate turn into a man! Hasn't happened has it? I also don't believe in the religious aspect of why we are here either!

Explain to me how a primate turns into a primate? humans are primates.

Bottom line, no one can prove either theory, so why is this even an issue in our schools? I can think of many more important thing to teach our children, such as how to read, how to write, mathematics, etc etc.......

the difference between evolutionary theory and creation theory is that one is backed by science and one is simply against scientific inquiry that defies the biblical interpretation. Evolution is an actual scientific theory, creationism is a religious doctrine. I agree that readin', writin' n' 'rithmatic are critical life skills but so is understanding science and gaining an appreciation for how the world around us works. are you implying that science shouldn't be taught in the classroom or only some science?

[Just more nonsense to put one group versus another group! What does it solve? Nothing! Crap like this is nothing more than a way to divide us more than we already are!

How is that working for us??

It's not working all that well actually. However, the only antagonists are those who push creationism as a legitimate scientific field and file law suits such as this. I don't know very many people working in biological sciences who give a rats behind which spaghetti monster you pray to on your version of the Sabbath. The true antagonists here are those who are so terribly offended by evolutionary theory that they stomp and pout about it constantly like those filing this suit meanwhile on the other hand they're waving banners and making trite commentaries alluding to the fact that because so many American are Christians that they are the majority and nobody believes evolution anyway. It's BS and even THEY know it. If there are so many safe and secure Christians in this country then why is evolution SO offensive? Could it be that they're afraid the truth may set some of the flock free to think for themselves? Or could it be that they're even more afraid that some will reach the inevitable conclusion that believing in god and believing in evolution aren't mutually exclusive concepts and thus the strangle hold of the church loosens ever so slightly. It's not a coincidence that the period of time that Europe was under near total control of the church is referred to as the Dark Ages and that the era of Galileo and DaVinci is called the Age of Reason.

After we start teaching creationism in science classes, I think we should allow Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter to be taught in history.

I don't agree with this at all, but I think the whole "it is religious" thing is based on the fact that so many people claim they think evolution is right but do not actually know what evolution is. So, in essence they are putting "faith" in something just like the religious people do.

goldenalien
I don't agree with this at all, but I think the whole "it is religious" thing is based on the fact that so many people claim they think evolution is right but do not actually know what evolution is. So, in essence they are putting "faith" in something just like the religious people do.

On contrary, I see more people claiming evolution to be myth, something based on belief rather than on scientific facts. Worst part is that they don't acknowledge that evolution can be studied in lab.

They want so called 'missing link', where evolution does not work that way. 2 primates did not have over night human child, but it took millions of years, thousands of generation and adjustment to get us here. We know that from fossils and our DNA, but how would you argue someone who think that earth is 5-6 thousands year old?! Just as said above - you can't fix stupid.

Put me in the b-l-o-n-e-y camp and nuts to Darwin.

Schools should only teach the basics. They do not have any justification for teaching imperfection.

People send their kids to sunday school and bam out the window w/ that stuff.

Top down driven mind Kontrol.

The more folks push back the better.

I'll go w/ Z. Sitchin.

reply to post by seeker1963

Why does it need to part of the curriculum in our schools anyway? What does it contribute to our children learning how to be productive members of society?

There is more to learning then be a productive member of society. Or are you saying we are advanced as human species and no need to invent, cure and discover things anymore? learning science is productive, or you will be one of those ease to manipulate folks.

I am still waiting to see a primate turn into a man! Hasn't happened has it?

Please learn the basic before trying to argue against it. That is the most basic quote religious fundies have been using for the last 50-60 yrs, if not more.

I also don't believe in the religious aspect of why we are here either! Bottom line, no one can prove either theory, so why is this even an issue in our schools?

Dont try to compare both things, religion and god is no flipping theory, it has no evidence to even start anything.

I can think of many more important thing to teach our children, such as how to read, how to write, mathematics, etc etc.......

you cleverly left out science, the reason the earth is spinning, you are breathing, eating and typing this stuff on your computer using your muscles.

Just more nonsense to put one group versus another group! What does it solve? Nothing! Crap like this is nothing more than a way to divide us more than we already are! How is that working for us??

There maybe agenda, but saying that lie to be ignorant should not be the case.

"its all a plot to divide and conquer.. so lets be ignorant"

reply to post by jibajaba

Are you serious?

In order to grow, brain has to be used to full potential. What school has to do more - teach more creativity and try to find every kids strength, in order to create future scientist and explorers.

seeker1963
reply to post by Southern Guardian

 

Why does it need to part of the curriculum in our schools anyway?

What does it contribute to our children learning how to be productive members of society?

What a stupid question to ask... The idea of teaching kids these concepts is so that a few of them become interested in it and decide to pursue further education in that field. Just because a construction worker doesn't need to use the concepts of evolution on a regular basis is no reason not to teach it. If we don't teach the sciences, how are children going to become interested in science and pursue becoming a scientist? What you said is what a child asks while in grade school because he doesn't want to study the content, I would have thought as an adult you would have realized this concept by now...

By the way, not teaching science is how we get misinformed creationists misrepresenting evolution in a desperate attempt to disprove it so they can substitute their own theory with even less proof of it being true.

ETA: I am appalled that people on this website would advocate NOT teaching something to children. Isn't the motto of this site "Deny Ignorance"? Yet you want children to remain in ignorance of the sciences because we can't 100% prove theories. That is absurd.

Krazysh0t
ETA: I am appalled that people on this website would advocate NOT teaching something to children. Isn't the motto of this site "Deny Ignorance"? Yet you want children to remain in ignorance of the sciences because we can't 100% prove theories. That is absurd.

Worst part is that evolution is proven on multiple levels and recreated in lab many times. There is no question if theory is stable and sound and it is not hypotheses, as ID folks and people who don't understand it would present it.

Well, data shows that with higher education people are less likely to believe in personal god(s). Thus, it is in interest of groups like this to have sheep, not scientists who will figure out that Earth is not flat, nor is 6 thousands year old and that us being in the same sub-group as other apes is nothing to be ashamed off.

I am still trying to figure out what kind of ignorance can make someone even think that kids should be thought only basics. Only reason would be to create dump flock, ready to follow and do as its told... Kind of 1984-ish....

goldenalien
I don't agree with this at all, but I think the whole "it is religious" thing is based on the fact that so many people claim they think evolution is right but do not actually know what evolution is. So, in essence they are putting "faith" in something just like the religious people do.

You need to understand science as a whole, to understand what scientific method in order to understand there is no such thing as "faith" in science.

There is so much information out there, that a person can never know everything at once. There is simply too much information. Different fields are getting more and more specialised every day, which creates even more information.

For understanding evolution, big bang theory or even computer science fully, it would take years of learning for the average person, if not more, as there are multiple fields combined which create the scientific theories and facts (in science, when something has reached the status of theory, it is already near to being a fact and has very significant evidence to support it behind it).

If you understood the method how everything in science is derived and proven, you would understand my point. This is not faith that I am putting into different scientific largely recognised theories, I simply trust the method how everything is derived. At the end every technology and item we buy is there thanks to science.The same method is used, whether it comes to computers, radios, TVs, cars, the same method has put a man to air, even to space, just as it has been used for gaining evidence for evolution.

Just one paper (even when peer-reviewed) can be a fake, but sooner or later everything like that will be debunked, as that is what science is about, finding out how the world around us works. When there is something vast majority of some very smart people from all around the world, out of many work with these day to day, recognise and are not able to debunk (if evolution could be debunked, it would have done already, I can guarantee you), why do you think someone who spent a few hours in Youtube or read just one book could debunk something like that easily...

You need to understand the method behind scientific theories, then you would understand the reason why it is not a faith, when people who do not understand these fully, agree with them. They do not put faith in the theory, they KNOW the method which derived it was trustworthy, as at the end every time you turn your computer on or drive a car or even walk around in some mall, you put the trust in the science behind it, as otherwise the car might explode, mall collapse or the computer catch fire. It is the engineers behind these items, that created such complex systems using scientific method to create these.

The US continues it's demise into the Dark Ages. Soon you'll be sacrificing virgins to he Moon o try and make the Sun come back